Cubs Complete The Sweep
BOWLING GREEN, Ky. – South Bend starter Tommy Thorpe posted six strong innings, and the Cubs offense stayed hot and powered a 9-2 win over Bowling Green to complete the series sweep Tuesday afternoon at Bowling Green Ballpark.
South Bend (33-31 second half, 62-69 overall) picked up where it left off in Monday’s 10-4 win with another all-around effort to sweep the Hot Rods (29-34 second half, 66-67 overall) and keep its playoff hopes alive. The Cubs began the afternoon five games behind West Michigan for second place—and a wild-card spot—in the Midwest League’s Eastern Division. South Bend has six regular-season games remaining.
Thorpe allowed just three hits and one walk to go along with four strikeouts over his six stanzas. Over his last eight starts since coming off the disabled list in July, the left-hander has compiled a 1.72 ERA.
South Bend shortstop Gleyber Torres (3-for-4, two doubles) collected his 13th game with at least three hits this season. Designated hitter Ian Happ (2-for-3, two walks) reached base four times, and second baseman Angelo Amendolare (2-for-4, two doubles, three RBI) produced in his first start with South Bend.
Happ knocked a two-out RBI single to right field to plate Torres in the first inning and give South Bend a 1-0 lead.
In the second, Cubs center fielder Rashad Crawford yanked a two-run double down the right-field line to stretch the lead to 3-0. Torres then ripped an RBI single to right field to reel in leadoff man Jeffrey Baez.
Bowling Green first baseman Carter Burgess doubled to start the bottom of the third, advanced to third on a wild pitch and scored on a sacrifice fly from shortstop Cristian Toribio, pulling the Hot Rods within three, 4-1.
In the top of the fifth with the bases loaded, Amendolare tucked a two-run double inside the left-field line to bump the lead to 6-1. Third baseman Vimael Machin then made it 7-1 with an RBI groundout.
Toribio tagged a solo home run on the first pitch in the bottom of the eighth inning.
The Cubs made it 8-2 in the ninth when first baseman Kevin Encarnacion singled and Happ scored on an error by Hot Rods right fielder Cade Gotta. Amendolare then added a sacrifice fly to left field.
South Bend righty Daniel Lewis pitched a 1-2-3 ninth inning to button up the victory.
South Bend returns home to begin a three-game series with Dayton on Wednesday at 7:05 p.m. ET at Four Winds Field. Cubs right-hander James Norwood (4.67 ERA) is scheduled to oppose Dragons righty Jake Paulson (2.71 ERA).